Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, on Tuesday, criticized Democratic governors for participating in protests after issuing prolonged lockdown orders during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Democratic governors encouraged — and often participated in — mass protests that didn’t follow their own social distance guidelines,” the Republican tweeted. “How can they continue to discriminate against churches trying to safely reopen?”
Cotton’s criticism comes amid a chorus of criticism of state lawmakers, church leaders, and business owners, who, after discouraging large gatherings for months, joined huge crowds of people protesting the death of George Floyd in police custody.
In New Jersey, state lawmakers on Monday called out Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy for joining protests with the Black Lives Matter movement. Murphy stated on Friday that concern for safety during the pandemic was good, but “not a reason not to protest.”
The apparent double standard provoked condemnation from several state legislators, who pointed out that Murphy, who has remained the only governor not to permit in-person church services, is holding up a double standard on social distancing.
“The right to protest is constitutionally protected, but we can’t be selective in who we allow to exercise that right and when they can do it,” Republican state Sen. Steve Oroho said in a statement. “Business owners who want to assemble to fight the continued lockdown because they are struggling to remain afloat, or church congregants who want to be able to worship more freely have equal rights to protest. The Governor’s words and latest actions don’t marry up, and frankly he lacks the authority and ability to speak with clarity and conviction about the lockdown anymore.”
In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer received harsh criticism after she joined protesters last week, without regard to social distancing.
“Social distancing is critical to stop the spread of COVID-19 — unless you have a great photo op. And control,” tweeted Republican state Rep. Lynn Afendoulis.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio drew criticism last week when he seemed to indicate that protests were of a higher priority than church services during the pandemic.
“400 years of American racism, I’m sorry, that is not the same question as the understandably aggrieved store owner or the devout religious person who wants to go back to services,” de Blasio said after asked if the large protests meant that people could go back to church.
